Episode #12489 ~ When Rafe's secret is uncovered, he gets
fired from the police force; Melanie pays Gabi a surprise visit in prison; Will
blasts Sonny for not consulting him before taking money out of their joint bank
account; Paul receives devastating news.

Rafe: Hey, Merry Christmas, boss. How was your holiday? Okay. You wanted to
see me?

Roman: Take a seat, Detective.

Guard: Your visitor's in here.

Gabi: Thanks for coming. This is great...

Melanie: Hey, Gabi.

Kate: Anonymous?

Clyde: Mm-hmm.

Kate: You're--you're-- you're gonna donate all of that money to charity, and
you don't want any credit for it?

Clyde: That's right. I just really prefer it that way. No. [Chuckles] No fever, I assure you.

Kate: You realize, of course, that you're going to miss out on the respect
and the recognition that a generous gift like that could give you?

Clyde: Well, you know, it's been said, it's the thought that counts.

Kate: Uh-huh. I am sure you've heard the phrase "win-win," as well.

Clyde: Now where would a country boy like me be if I didn't have a
good-looking city slicker like you to school me on such things, huh?

Kate: Hmm. Well, could you at least tell me who is going to reap the benefits
of your generosity?

Clyde: It's a program that they're running out of university hospital.

Kate: Really?

Clyde: Mm-hmm.

Kate: Well... I have to say, even though you want your donation to remain
anonymous, I-I really do have to applaud your very smart choice of beneficiary.

Jordan: [Moans]

Chad: Hey, good morning.

Jordan: [Moaning] Is it still?

Chad: It is, yes.

Jordan: Oh. [Exhales] Barely.

Chad: [Chuckles]

Jordan: I never sleep this late. Oh, my--

Chad: I promise you won't get fined.

Jordan: If you say so. Well, this is a nice way to wake up at any hour. Well,
is something wrong? Is there a problem with our proposal?

Abigail: Only if getting full funding from an anonymous donor is a problem.

Jordan: You made Christmas really special for me. Maybe I can do the same for
you today.

Gabi: Sorry, I was expecting--

Melanie: Somebody else, obviously.

Gabi: Well, will and sonny were coming, I thought, with Ariana.

Melanie: Yeah. No, I imagine they'll be here soon.

Gabi: So you're back. For Christmas?

Melanie: Um... not just Christmas. I'm staying. And in a way, you made that
possible.

Gabi: I did? How?

Melanie: You killed Nick.

Will: Sonny, it's not just the checking account. The business account is at
zero balance, also. Someone took our money.

Sonny: It was me.

Will: What?

Sonny: For the new club.

Will: Wha--are you serious?

Sonny: I was gonna tell you this morning.

Will: But what, you forgot?

Sonny: I got a call from the contractor. I had to move fast.

Will: I thought Chad gave you a ton of cash for this expansion?

Sonny: He did. It's spent. I needed more. I didn't mean to catch you off
guard. It's just, it's taking a lot of money--more than I thought--to get this
place ready.

Will: Well, what are we supposed to live on while we wait for this business
to get ready? Sonny, how are we gonna pay the rent or get groceries or--or the
babysitter? Sonny, that was our money and you used it for your club.

Sonny: Our money? Really, will?

Daniel: So you know your surgery was about repairing the shoulder?

Paul: Right, I got that.

Daniel: So we stitched up the damaged tendon and made room for the improved
movement by shaving off some of the bone.

Paul: Just as long as you left enough for me to hit 100 again on the gun.

Daniel: [Sighs]

Paul: The radar gun. When--when I-- when I throw.

Daniel: Okay, Paul, on a scale from one to ten, what has been your comfort
level in the pt sessions since your surgery?

Paul: Honestly, not that great. Maybe a six, seven. I mean, there's some
pain, some stiffness, but I've got a lot more movement, so I knew that I had to
push through.

Daniel: Yeah, Jordan said the same, basically. Um...

Paul: Right, so why are you so negative? I--things are on track, right?

Daniel: Yes, yes, but you're not going to have the full range you were aiming
to get for your post surgery.

Paul: Whoa, wait a minute. How do you--how do you even know that?

Daniel: Now, this--this is your latest MRI. Now, I have gone over and over
this, and what we can expect from your shoulder is within the range of normal.
But what you're not going to be able to do are things out of the range of
normal. Like throwing a baseball at 100 miles an hour.

Paul: Are you saying... I won't be able to pitch any more?

Daniel: Paul... I'm sorry.

Abigail: I missed you yesterday.

Ben: [Sighs] I missed you too. It was great seeing you on Christmas Eve, but
I don't want to push it with Christmas Day. I mean, you needed to be with your
family. But maybe next year.

Abigail: No. No, not maybe. So, um... did you end up seeing Jordan after work
yesterday?

Ben: Yeah, for a little while. But she had to be somewhere.

Abigail: On Christmas?

Ben: Yeah, she didn't tell me where she was going, but then again, I didn't
even ask. But I also didn't have to think too hard to figure it out.

Jordan: In case I haven't told you enough already, I love my necklace.

Chad: Yeah?

Jordan: It's perfect.

Chad: That's high praise.

Jordan: Well-earned. All right. If I don't get out of this bed and shower,
I'm never gonna make it to work. It's gonna be your fault.

Chad: [Sighs]

[Door shuts]

Chad: [Sighs] How's your day shaping up, Rafe?

Rafe: Roman... now if this is about some of the work that I have been doing
on the side, I promise you that it has all been on my own time.

Roman: I was hoping what I read wasn't true, but the look on your face tells
me it is.

Paul: Wait, but you can't know this yet. My arm is still healing.

Daniel: I told you things have to align perfectly to get the results we
wanted, Paul.

Paul: Right, but look at this range of motion. I mean, it's almost 100%
pain-free.

Daniel: It won't be if you throw a baseball at your old speed. The body, it
is not meant to take that kind of stress over and over. The tendons just can't
support it. The MRI doesn't lie. If you throw a baseball at your old speed, I
guarantee you you will reinjure it, and chances are, it will be worse.

Paul: Then you're gonna open me up, and you're gonna fix it again.

Daniel: Okay, that's the thing... it won't help.

Paul: Okay, Dr. Jonas, let me explain to you about my business. Now I am
currently a free agent, which means I'm unemployed until someone signs me. And
my agent was gonna get me $20 million for a year. Now all I need is one more
year, and you're telling me that you can't do that for me?

Daniel: Paul... I am really, really sorry.

Paul: And what am I supposed to do with my life? 'Cause baseball's all I've
got!

Sonny: Let's look in the account history, will. Let's look and see how long
you've been putting money into it. Because before that--

Will: Before that I was living off of you?

Sonny: Don't put words in my mouth.

Will: You're the one who wanted us to have a joint bank account, sonny. I
work now. I contribute. So I don't get to know where the money goes just because
it took me longer to level the playing field?

Sonny: I told you, I had to move fast.

Will: And I supported the expansion of the club, and if it turns a profit,
great. But sonny, what if it doesn't do that? Just because you got lucky with
TBD doesn't--

Sonny: Lucky? I put a lot of work into that.

Will: I know you did. Sonny, you know what I mean.

Sonny: Yeah, I think I do.

Will: I'm just trying to understand. If you needed money, why didn't you go
to your uncle Victor for a loan? Hell, he would have given you the money. He's
family. He'd help. But now because you were too proud to ask for help, we're
gonna have to juggle our finances just to pay the bills.

Sonny: Damn it, will. I went to my uncle Vic, and he said no.

Kate: This town is just crazy about their hospital. You know all the right
people have been cured there or died reasonably comfortable deaths there, and...
[Chuckles]

Clyde: So wouldn't an anonymous donation count for even more at a place like
that? I mean, the money not only serves a noble purpose, it comes from someone
who isn't expecting anything in return.

Kate: Yeah, no, no, absolutely. I mean, when the board members discuss those
kind of donors, they usually discuss it in tones kind of like in the Vatican
when they're discussing saints, you know? But inevitably, someone gets a little
sloppy, and then the donor's name slips out and... [Laughing] Oh, my God. Really? Well, well, you are very cunning,
Mr. Weston.

Clyde: Whatever do you mean, miss Roberts?

Kate: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So, you were telling me all of this so I would be the
one who accidentally leaks your name to the board?

Abigail: You know, Jordan's always telling me what a great guy Chad is now,
but I wonder...

Ben: Oh, you just wonder? You're not sure it's a lie?

Abigail: It's her choice, Ben.

Ben: It's her mistake, Abigail. That guy can't be trusted.

Abigail: Well, your sister is a--a really smart woman, and if Chad is using
her, she'll figure it out.

Ben: Well, you're right. She is a smart woman. But come on, Abigail, this
guy? He's a DiMera. And you know better than anyone that he's always working on
an agenda. Most people don't realize that until it's too late. Until the damage
is already done.

Roman: So you knew that Gabi hired the man that kidnapped Melanie Jones?

Rafe: Yes. I knew. I found out shortly after that guy Andrew died.

Roman: And you sat on it?

Rafe: She's my sister--

Roman: Tell me why in the hell that matters, Rafe.

Rafe: Roman, I made a promise to my mother and to myself that I was going to
look out for my sister.

Roman: Really? How'd that work out? If you had come forward then, your little
sister would've served a short sentence, would have never gotten involved with
Nick Fallon. Instead, she's in prison...

Rafe: Well I'm not a psychic, okay?

Roman: For murder!

Rafe: I didn't think that things would--

Roman: No! No, damn it. You did not think, Rafe! Not at all!

Gabi: I did kill Nick. Yeah. That's why I'm here. I guess that makes things
easier for you to be back in Salem, with Nick out of the picture and no one else
to remind you about how tough things used to be.

Melanie: I didn't come here to taunt you, Gabi. I came here because I felt
like I needed to see you. I was at the Horton house for Christmas, and they hung
an ornament for Nick, and I realized that even though we have bad history, we
share something. You and I both know the kind of person Nick could really be.
What he was capable of. What he could make you feel and think. So I just wanted
you to know that had it been me in your position, with a child to protect, I
would have pulled the trigger, too.

Daniel: Is there anything I can do? If you want, I can talk through the
injury with your agent.

Paul: No. This stays between us. I-I have to figure things out.

Daniel: I understand. I am really sorry. I hope you'll continue pt.

Paul: What's the point?

Daniel: Well, the point is, you have a lifetime left of using that shoulder.
I know there is so much more that you want to do, and I know this probably
sounds like cold comfort right now, but Paul... you should be very proud of what
you've accomplished.

Paul: I met my pitching coach. He rode me about this. He said I needed to
rest my arm more. I just wanted to throw hard because that's what got people
out. Bernie knew it. I mean, he blew his arm out, too.

Daniel: And he has a career in baseball after pitching, right?

Paul: I have to go. But thank you for your honesty.

Sonny: Victor doesn't think my new club is a viable project. But I'm gonna
prove him wrong.

Will: Sonny, your uncle knows business. If he doesn't think that this is
viable-- but you know what? He's-- [Sniffs] He's not in your business. You know your business a lot better than
him. And a lot better than I do.

Sonny: I'm not gonna waste our money. Okay, and I should have told you that I
was gonna be spending some money before you found out the way you did. I'm
sorry.

Will: I'm sorry, too.

Sonny: All right, we better get going. We're gonna be late.

Will: Late for what?

Sonny: We're taking Ari to go see Gabi. You didn't forget, did you?

Will: I can't go.

Sonny: What are you talking about? Why not?

Will: I have to meet someone for this article that I'm writing. I just can't
do it.

Gabi: That was, um... pretty direct.

Melanie: It's true. He played me, too, Gabi. I thought he had changed. When
they asked me how I felt about him getting out of prison, I didn't do anything
to stop it.

Gabi: The things that happened after weren't your fault.

Melanie: I know. You still think about decisions that you've made.
Consequences. Like not telling anyone what you did with Andrew.

Gabi: If I could take one thing back, it would be that. When the truth came
out, it was such a relief. All the damage had been done. The mistakes I'd made
couldn't hurt anyone anymore.

Roman: You know what? I don't know who sent this to me or why. But it doesn't
really matter. You're not denying a word of it.

Rafe: Well, if you're thinking of opening an internal investigation, I'll
save you the trouble because no one here knows a damn thing about this, okay?

Melanie: Um, sorry, y--uh... if it was serious, they wouldn't have gone,
right?

Gabi: Right, yeah, mm-hmm. Yeah. I guess.

Melanie: Okay, I know-- I know I kind of, uh... shut you down when you tried
to apologize earlier about the mess with Andrew. I just wanted you to know, I'm
okay now. I'm past it. I mean, as far as you and your part in it-- I just don't
want that standing between us anymore.

Will: C--can you cover for me with Gabi? Just this once.

Sonny: Okay.

Will: [Sighs] I have to go. Can we talk about the bill stuff later on tonight
and sort all that out?

Sonny: Yeah. It's all gonna work out, Will.

Will: I know that.

Abigail: Merry Christmas.

Both: Hi.

Abigail: Mwah. I can still say that all week, right?

Jordan: Definitely.

Abigail: So, uh, how was your holiday? I spent part of mine with Ben, which
was great.

Jordan: Oh, I'm glad. Mine was good, too.

Abigail: Oh, my God. That necklace is-- it's beautiful. Is it, um--

Jordan: It was a Christmas gift, yeah. And since I know you're going to ask,
yes, it is from Chad.

Daniel: Hey, Rafe, uh, you got a minute? I need to talk to you about some
police business.

Rafe: Heh.

Daniel: That is, if you have time.

Rafe: Yeah.

Kate: So, you let me go on and on about you deserving credit for your
donation. The whole time you've had this little plan up your sleeve?

Clyde: I thought you'd like my approach. See, who's admired more? The man who
funds a charity, or the man who funds a charity and selflessly refuses to take
any credit for it?

Kate: Hmm. Exquisite in its simplicity.

Clyde: I do need you to hold off on the name-dropping for a bit, though. Uh,
this charity happens to be Jordan's. So I gotta be careful how I play this.

Kate: Ah. Boy, I would love to be a fly on the wall to see her face when she
finds out that it is her stepfather who's funding her little pet project.

Clyde: It should be interesting.

Kate: Mm-hmm.

Clyde: [Chuckles]

Kate: I do like the way you operate. I just think that... maybe you missed
your calling. I think perhaps you should have been a politician. Talk to you
soon.

Clyde: Ah. Yeah... but what I do pays better. [Chuckles]

Gabi: This was, uh-- it's great to see you. This was really good for me. Very
good.

Melanie: For me, too. This place is close to town. I hope you get a lot of
visitors.

Gabi: I do. I do, and I have, uh, EJ DiMera to thank for that. I still can't
believe that he's gone.

Guard: You have another visitor. Two.

Gabi: [Gasps]

Sonny: Hi. I didn't know you-- you were gonna be here.

Melanie: Hey.

Gabi: Hi, sweetie, how are you?

Sonny: Go to mommy.

Gabi: It's so good to see you. You look so beautiful. Uh, Melanie told me she
had a fever for Christmas?

Melanie: Sorry.

Sonny: Uh, low-grade, but it broke this morning.

Gabi: Okay, good. Mommy loves you so much. Hi.

Melanie: She's beautiful. And she's so big.

Gabi: So is, um-- is--is will parking the car?

Sonny: Uh, he's, uh-- he's sorry he couldn't make it today. He wanted to, but
next time, for sure, nothing's gonna keep him away.

Gabi: Okay.

Paul: This is the place sonny Kiriakis owns, right? Well, is he there? No, no
message.

Will: Well, that's okay. We can make this a shorter session, if you want. I
just had a couple questions about the upcoming season. How long is it now until
pitchers and catchers report?

Paul: A few more weeks.

Will: A few more weeks? I guess you must be pretty eager to sign with a team.
You know, I figure you want to get to spring training early, I bet.

Paul: Yeah.

Will: Now, based on my research, it seems like there's gonna be a real
bidding war for you. And I know you said you don't really care where you're
gonna land, but I'm wondering, do you--do you have any idea where you think you
might end up? St. Louis? New York? L.A.?

Paul: Will, just stop! Please, just-- just stop.

Gabi: [Giggles] Do you want to hold her?

Melanie: No, no. This is your time with her.

Gabi: No, here, she's... she's getting so big, we won't be able to do this
forever.

Melanie: Oh.

Gabi: Yes. [Laughing]

Melanie: Oh, wow. She's perfect. Hi.

Gabi: Honey... this is Melanie. She's a very, very special person. And she's
also your godmother's best friend, Abigail. Maybe when Abigail visits Ari, you
can come along and get to know her better.

Melanie: Yeah?

Gabi: Yeah.

Melanie: Ha. Well, try keeping me away then. [Chuckles]

Clyde: I missed seeing you at Christmas, and I didn't want too much time to
go by before I got this to you.

Ben: Oh. Come on. You didn't have to do this. You already got me the best
gift ever. I mean, paying for my tuition, Clyde, is something I can never--

Clyde: Listen. That's the kind of gift a dad is happy to give. All right?
This is the kind he's proud to give. Go ahead, open it.

Ben: [Chuckles] Wow.

Clyde: It was my granddaddy's. He wore it all through world war I. My momma
told me to treasure it. That it was my job to take good care of her daddy's
watch. And I did. Now it's your turn, son.

Abigail: Well, Chad did always have great taste in jewelry.

Jordan: That's it? No lecture?

Abigail: No, no lecture. I-I told you, I said all I have to say about Chad.
Really. I mean, I'm not gonna lie to you, Ben is worried. And, you know, he's
your brother. He feels like he's responsible for protecting you.

Jordan: I know, but Ben and Chad got off to a horrible start. And I really
wish Ben would give him another chance because the truth is, Chad has been
perfect.

Daniel: So I was on call, and the ER sent your gunshot up to me for surgery.

Rafe: Mm.

Daniel: I mean, things went well, but I think I got some forensics you could
use to start building a case.

Rafe: Great, great. Call hope. Tell her.

Daniel: But it's your case.

Rafe: Yeah. Not anymore. I handed in my gun and badge this morning. Yeah.

Chad: Uh-huh. Great. Thank you. Finally. That was good news on the Dewitt
acquisition. It is a done deal.

Clyde: Say, I just spoke to an attorney, get that all squared away, all
right. But it's like I told you, I got a lot of making up to do. You and your
sister. So if I can help people that need the help, make your sister's dream
come true, man, that's a win-win. Right?

Abigail: I know you think that Chad is perfect, but your brother just, he
doesn't see him that way at all.

Jordan: Yeah, I know. But when I first met Chad, he was just this nice guy
who cared about the fact that things weren't going that well for me. And he had
no idea Ben was my brother, and he had no agenda with me or him.

Abigail: Yeah, I know-- I know that's what he said.

Jordan: You think he's lying?

Abigail: I just, I-I think that in my experience, the DiMeras are
exceptionally good at twisting the truth so that they can get what they want.

Kate: Chad... what are you doing? Are you challenging me to a duel over the
likes of Tammy sue?

Chad: Her name is Jordan. I care about her, so I'm not gonna sit here and
listen to you trash-talk her.

Kate: Wow. She did pretty good. She has you defending her, and she's--she's
not even here. Did she play that little lost lamb act with you the way she did
with Rafe, as well?

Chad: She's not a victim.

Kate: Oh, yeah, you see, well, I agree with that 1,000%. She is not a victim.
She is a schemer, and she's very resourceful. I mean, she did make it all the
way from churning butter in the Ozarks to beguiling the richest young fool in
Salem. She's no victim, but Rafe was. And now you will be, too.

Daniel: Well, who sent the letter?

Rafe: Anonymous.

Daniel: Look, I'm sorry. But I-I hope you know that I didn't--

Rafe: No, no, listen. I never thought for a second that you or Melanie said
anything.

Daniel: All right.

Rafe: It doesn't matter, anyway. What matters is that I find a good lawyer
ASAP.

Daniel: I am really sorry, Rafe, I...

Rafe: Mm, mm-mm. Listen... I made a promise, I felt I had to keep it.
It's--it's what I had to do at the time. But these are the kind of lies that,
uh... catch up with you. All you can do is figure out how to live with them.

Gabi: I love you so much, baby. Momma loves you so much, okay? Heh. [Grunts] I'm so glad that you guys were all here. Together. This, um... this
means so much to me. You know, and--and don't... don't feel sorry for me because
when I get time like this with Ari, it just makes everything feel all right. I
mean, as all right as it can be. It makes me, uh, yeah... it makes me feel
lucky.

Melanie: Please take care of yourself.

Gabi: Yeah.

Sonny: You okay?

Melanie: Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine. It just--I don't know how she can be
so strong.

Sonny: I don't think any of us knew how tough she is. Makes you feel kind of
small when you can't get on top of your own problems.

Paul: Sorry.

Will: No, I'm sorry. This obviously isn't a good time. I didn't realize.
Look, you know, I can, um-- I can go and we can-- look, I-I don't even need to
bug you with these questions. I have more than enough stuff to get this article
into great shape. I-I do. [Grunts]

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